November 17th is World Prematurity Day, and we’re thinking about all the great work done in Ireland’s hospitals and neonatal units to help our most vulnerable newborns. Today, the event was marked by a special coffee morning in the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, which houses a special unit to care for these tiny babies.

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Holles Street is a tertiary referral centre for acutely ill and pre-term babies from across Ireland. It cares for about 1,500 babies from all around Ireland each year, some of whom are born as early as 24 weeks and some as tiny as 500 grammes. The team of specialists, doctors, midwives and nurses work tirelessly to help these tiny newborns, some suffering acute breathing problems, infection and jaundice.

But of course, like many other specialist units, the equipment and facilites require upgrading and improving and the funds simply aren’t there. The Holles Street Family Fund has been set up to raise money for this wonderful unit; if you’d like to help, visit www.nmhfoundation.ie. Or, simply buy a pack of Water Wipes as for every 60-count pack sold in the month of November 10c will be donated to NMH Foundation, and the funds raised will be used to help the babies in this life-saving unit.